The inhibitory role of miR-214 in cervical cancer cells through directly targeting mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM)

Eur J Gynaecol Oncol. 2014;35(6):676-82.

Abstract

Mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) is a high-mobility group (HMG) protein and acts as a key regulator in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication, transcription, and inheritance. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that TFAM plays an important role in tumorigenesis; however, the regulatory mechanism of TFAM in cervical cancer has not been revealed. In the current study, the au- thors found that with malignancy of cervical cancer, the protein expression of TFAM was gradually increased, while the expression of miRNA-214 was gradually downregulated. They further identified that TFAM is a target of miR-214. Forced overexpression of miRNA-214 significantly suppressed cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, colony-formation, and migration of cervical cancer Hela and Caski cells; however, upregulation of TFAM notably promoted cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, colony-formation, and migration of Hela and Caski cells. The authors further showed that miR-214 enhanced the susceptibility of Hela and Caski cells to the chemotherapy drug cisplatin. In conclusion, the current study provides a new sight for the regulatory pattern of miRNA-214 and TFAM in cervical cancer in vitro, indicating that miRNA-214 and MTFA may become important candidates for developing promising therapeutic strategies for the treatment of cervical cancer.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cisplatin / pharmacology
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Female
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / physiology*
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / genetics*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / genetics
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • MIRN214 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • TFAM protein, human
  • Transcription Factors
  • Cisplatin